How to enter the sacred Red Tent portal (and awaken the Menstrual Midwife within)

On the Secret Witch Show today our guest is Amy Wilding. Amy is a Red Tent Keeper, Women's Circle Facilitator, and author of the beloved Wild & Wise, and the forthcoming Period of Change: Welcoming Your Daughter's Period with Care and Confidence, launching March 2026. Through her embodied, earth-honouring rites of passage work, she guides women into deep connection with themselves and each other - especially through the sacred threshold of menstruation and womanhood. Amy has been leading circles, retreats and initiatory experiences for over a decade, helping women reclaim ancient feminine wisdom in modern ways. In this episode, we explore how menstrual shame has been passed down through generations, and how women can begin to unlearn it by returning to the sacredness of their bodies. Amy shares the story of how her own healing began after loss, opening her to the wisdom of her cycle, and ultimately leading her to become a guide for others. We speak about the power of the Red Tent, why sisterhood matters, and how women can move through shame and reclaim the initiation they never received. Amy also offers a deeply resonant introduction to the archetype of the Menstrual Midwife – a guide for mothers, daughters, and a place within every Secret Witch ready to reclaim her magic through her womb. What You'll Learn from this Episode: Menstruation was once sacred - the original root of the word 'ritual' literally comes from our sacred bleed Shame about menstruation is inherited - it's passed down when mothers don't question the stories they were told. The most radical thing we can do is re-educate ourselves about our bodies - and then give that truth to our daughters Our bodies are not dysfunctional - we're just living in a culture that doesn't understand cycles. Our cycles are not symptoms to fix - they are rhythms to remember If we didn't receive the initiation that we needed into our first bleed, we can still offer it to ourselves. It's never too late - we can go back and offer our inner little girl a sense of safety The Menstrual Midwife within each of us is the one who holds the threshold of transformation - with reverence, not fear We don't need to get it right. Our daughters and children don't need perfect mothers - they need honest ones. Resources and things that we spoke about: Amy's Links: Wild and Wise - Amy's book: https://a.co/d/hVFW4QT Period of Change - Amy's new book, out in March 26: https://www.periodofchange.com/thebook Amy's Website - http://www.periodofchange.com/ Amy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amywildingofficial Amy's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/periodofchange Our Links: Attend our Meet your Witch free taster ceremony - 18th September -  https://meetyourwitch.eventbrite.com  Join our Apothecary Membership to reclaim your inner Witch: www.nicolebarton.co.uk/membership Social: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nicoleamandabarton  Facebook Group - Secret Witch Sisterhood: www.facebook.com/groups/secretwitch  Instagram - @iamnicolebarton Instagram - @archetypalapothecary You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/@secretwitchsociety Tiktok - @archetypalapothecary Free Moonlit Apothecary Love Letters: www.nicolebarton.co.uk/moonlitapothecary  YouTube Episode Link: https://youtu.be/i1kJp5vzNjA Resources: Other Books -  The Red Tent - Anita Diamant - https://a.co/d/i4Bacd7 Taking Charge Of Your Fertility - Toni Weschler - https://a.co/d/1X15RbB Wild Power - Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer - https://a.co/d/e9JDg5n Thank you for listening, we'd love to know what comes alive for you in this week's episode, so please let us know. If you loved it, there's a fresh episode every other week - subscribe so you don't miss it! Thank you, Nicole and Team Secret Witch xox